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4 out of 5 stars

Usher, Hard II Love @ RCAOn his fourth single from Hard II Love, “Missin U,” Usher shows he has lost little of his sexy swagger over the years.

After teasing us for years with singles, Usher surprisingly announced his new album, Hard II Love, would arrive September 16, 2016.  After releasing singles “Crash”, “Champions,” and “No Limit”, Usher drops “Missin U.”

 “Missin U” opens with a spoken word intro, centered around a bad girl – in the most appealing way possible.

“You know it’s in her attitude
The way she walks, nice legs
She’s gotta be beautiful…”

Once it sets up, “Missin U” features a slick, hip-hop infused beat. Overall, the production work is electrifying.  While the chords aren’t always the “go to” feature, in this instance, the harmonic progression is a selling point. Exceptional, it’s different from everything else, which is refreshing.

There are other pros in regards to “Missin U.”  The soulful styling on the refrain is magnificent.  The stark contrast between verse and chorus is epic – sensational by all means.  Last but not least, Usher’s vocals are superb.  Even as he approaches his 38th birthday in October, his voice is as potent as ever.


Final Thoughts

“Missin U” is different from the singles that Usher has released from Hard II Love as of yet. The soulful chorus is among many selling points.  Superbly produced, it is a great look with the separation between verse and chorus. All in all, a fine musical moment from Usher.

4 out of 5 stars


Usher • Hard II Love • RCA • Release: 9.16.16
Photo Credit: RCA 

 


the musical hype

the musical hype (Brent Faulkner) has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music (music education, music theory/composition respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and freelance music blogger. Faulkner cites music and writing as two of the most important parts of his life. Notably, he's blessed with a great ear, possessing perfect pitch.

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